Thermostatic controller.



PATENTED SEPT. 8, 1907.

c. A. DUNH'AM, THBRMOSTATIG CONTROLLER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 9. 1905. 4

2 $HEEIS-SHEET 1.

INVENTOR 6 lag/ion alflunfiam W Q Q '01 Mrugsstsw,

O 9 1 ow .T av D... E S D E T N E T A P M A H N U D A nw THERMOSTATIGCONTROLLER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNEQ, 1906.

2 SSHEETS-'SHEET 2.

ATTORNEYS g n w m 6 To all whom it may concern:

CLAYTON AUBRA DUNHAM, OF MABSHALLTOWN, IOWA. go U manosrs'rro com-Roma.

measnvi.

Be it known that 1, CLAYTONAUBRA DUNHAI, a

citizen of the United States, anda resident of Marshg'lltown, in thecounty oiMaishall and State oflowa, have invented a new and ImprovedThermostatic Con- .troller, of which theiollowiug is e. full, clear, andexact desciiption. My present invention relatestofan improvement inthermostatically operated controlling .de fvices ot the same generaltype as those in myprior patents numbers 735,733, .August:l1,i1903,;and753,557, March 1, 1904 a The invention is useful a trap, butit is alsouseful with controlling valves and other de-. vicesinvatious'connections where it is des'iredto operate the valve or otherdevice according to temperature changes.

The object of mypresen t invention is principally to improve the"constmction and assemblage of thechambored expansion disk which isemployed to actuate the valve 'or other member, rendering the expansiondisk more sensitive and at the same time more durable and easier ofoperation than such disks previously constructed. u

The invention involves various other changes 'of major or minorimportance, all of which will be fully setforth hereilmiter andparticularly pointed out in theclailns.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying draw-' ings which illustrateas examples two embodiments of my invention, in which drawings likecharacters of reference indicate like parts in the several yiews, and

in which Figure 1 is asection'al view of a steam trap fitted with myimproved expansion disk; Fig. 2 is a sectional view of another form oftrap fitted with said disk; Fig; 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the.expansiondisk and its connected parts, this View being taken essentiallyon the line 3-3, of Fig. 4; Fig. 4 is an enlarged section through thediskon the line 4-4 of Fig. 8; and Fig. 5 ma detail view showing themanner of connecting the stem of the yalve to the disk, this devicebeing useful,

ior example, in the connection show-Ii in Figs. 1 an t8;

Fig; 6 is a sectional view showing one oi the ra ial braces incrosssection, said view beingtaken on the line 6-43 of Fig. 3. g

The expansion disk or member as here shownis round and this is the iormwhich I desm preferable,

but I desire it understood that [do not use the termthe water oicondensation. These connections 10 and 11 connr phicate with a casing12, which has a double Specification of Letters, Patent. Applicationtiled in. 9.190s. Box-111lo- 264,535.

Patented Sept. 3,1907.

valve-seat 12, 12" therein, with which operates a double valve 14controlling the movement of the waterof condensation through the trap.15 indicates the expansion disk which is contained in a dome 12 forminga part of the casing 12, and which is connected to thestem 14" of thevalve by means-eta head 14 on said stem, the head fitting in an undercutslot 15*forming a part on the under side of the expansion disk, as shownbest in Fig 5, This allows the stem of the valve to be readily connectedwith and disconnected from the expansion disk, and at the same time itprovides for the accurate transmission oithe movement from the disk tothe valvefstem and conseqli ently to the valve. 12 indicates a nipple,which facilitates machine work and may, if desired, be used as adischarge. As here shown, it is fitted with a plug 12.

i As will be understood from the prior art, particularly my priorpatents hezcinbelore mentioned, the water of condensation accumulatingin the connection 10 will be forced bythe steam pressure through thenormally open ports 12 and 12 the water passing out through theconnection 11. When all the water is discharged and steam begins to passthe ports 12' and 12", this with the expansion disk 15 in the samemanner as de 1 scribedfin connection with the construction shown inFig. 1. In this second form of trap the-operation is essentially thesame as that above described, the steam 7 open seat 19 and; the steamarriving afterthewater expanding tfl'tedlSli 15 and causing the valve 20to seat so as to prevent the escape of steam into the atmosphere, pumpor into 'a hot well or other connection with which the connection 17 maycommunicate. 18" indicates a trap for receiving scale, sediment or otherforeign matter which may passinto the casing wit the water ofcondensation and steam.

' 1 special construction of the expansion disk 15 and its connectedparts is illustrated best in Figs. 3 and-4. The disk is formed with twocircular plates 21 and 22 which are preferably composed of high gradesheet phosphor bronze, but which be composed of any otherfiex ibleordurable material;- The outer edge of iorcing the water of condensatidnpast thenormally one ofsaid plates, forexample the plate 22, is turnedjoint. The pl'i-tcs 21 and 22 are preferably formed with concentriccorrugations which increase their flexibility. The plate has a centralopening therein through which extends a plu 25, and it is in this plugthat the before-described undercut slot 15 is formed. This plug issoldered to the plate 22 inside, as indicated at 26, and is alsosoldered to the outer side of the plate, as indicated at 27, thuseffecting a strong and hermetic connection. The plate 21 has a centralopening which receives a plug 28, and this plug is soldered to the plateinside, as at 29, and outside as at 30, the same as the plug 25.-The'plugs 25 and 28 have their inner portions lying opposite each otherand normally in close proximity, so as to resist any collapsing tendencyon the part of the expansion disk. The plug 28 is formed with a centralopening 31 to permit filling the expansion disk with a volatilesubstance, as will be hereinafter fully set forth. This opening isnormally closed by a screw-pin 32 which operates in the internallythreaded portion of the opening 31, and which normally is forced tightlyinto place. indicates a combined stulling box and lock-nut, which isthreaded on the pin 32 and formed with a' chamber 34 to receive apacking substance. By screwing this nut down on the casing of the trap,as shown in Figs. 1 and 2,'not only is the packing compressed around thescrew-rod so as to form a hermetic joint, but the element 33 bindsagainst the casing forming'a lock-nut, which'prevents the accidentalmovement of the screw-pin'in the easing. At its upper end the screw pinis provided with a, knurled or milled thumb-wheel 35, which is formedwith a sleeve 36 screwed on the pin 32, and held removably in place by acotter 37 In order to assist the luxtaposed plugs 25 and 28 in thefunction of preventng the cells 1- ol' th expansion disk, particularlyat ho outer portions of the disks where the plugs are not ffer-Live, iprovide spreader'plates 38. These plates, s shown in Fig. 3, have amarginal form corresponding o the corrugations in the plates 2i and 22and are fit- 1 ed snugly within the expansion disk, so that upon anyundue movement of the plates toward ea-i h other said plates will engagethe Spreaders or braces and their further movement will be arrested.The'plates are disposed radially, as shown in Fig. 4. Preferably thefour plates are formed integral in pairs, the members of each pair beingconnected by curved portions 38 which. are reduced in width so as topermit'said portions to cross each other. These curved portions 38surround the inner portions of the plugs 25 and 28, as shown in Figs. 3and 4. The expansion disk'thus constructed is adapte'dto be filled,through the opening 31 with a volatile substance. Preferably this is aliquid substance, such as ammonia, and it is my purpose to partly tillthe disk so that the vapor rising from the volatile fluid upon raisingthe temperature of the same will act interiorly on the disk, to expandit as contra-distinguished from filling the disk and expanding the seineby a change in the bulk of the substance contained the disk. I alsocharge the disk with different kinds of fluid vaporizing or changing invol ume under different temperatures and other different conditions. Inthis manner I provide for the application of the trap more effectuallythan heretofore, and

entirely automatically, no matter what condition arises.

Traps such as those to which my invention relates are subject to varyingconditions, pressures and temperatures, and under these varyingconditions it is desir-able ior effective,operation to have a number oflluids that will operate independently. For example, the trap may beworking under a partial vacuum, the pressure being thereby relieved tosome extent from the outside of the disk in the presence of heat. Afluid in the disk of high volatility will then vaporize and cause apressure expanding the walls and operat ing the valve. Again, let it beassumed that the same trap with the same disk is in service where thevacuum has been lost and it is subjected to atmospheric pressure. Theinterior pressure of the disk is then insufficient to withstand theatmospheric pressure and the walls are compressed and the valve openeduntil steam comes in contact with the disk; causing a second fluid" tobovaporized, overcoming the atmospheric pressure, expanding the walls ofthe disk, and closing the valve. Again, there are certain conditionswhere a trap must discharge against slight back pressure. This backpressure has the same effect upon the disk of compressing it again toits normal state, even with the first two fluids fully vaporized. Thisthird fluid, or. fluids, must then be of a very low volatility, nevervaporizing except on a back pressure whenthe temperature is higher thanit could possibly be at atmosphere.

After the vaporization of this last' fluid it is found in practice thatthe trap will operate successfully when a back pressure of not more thantwenty-five pounds surrounds the disk, thus meeting with the most severeconditions.

Having thus described the preferred form of my invention, what I claimas new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1 An expansion disk for thermostatic controllers, said disk having sheetmetal walls. of which the one has its edge lapped over the edges of theother. sald walls being soldered together at their engaging innersurfaces. and the lapping edge of the first wall being soldered to theouter surface of the second wall.

1.. ln a thermostatic controller, a chambered expansion disk. and abrace located in the disk and extending across the interior thereof toengage the walls of the disk at various points along the length of thebrace, whereby to prevent collapse of the disk.

3. In a thermostatic controller. a chambered expansion disk. and a platein the disk-set edgpwlse against its walls and forming a brace to resistthe collapse of the disk.

4. In a thermostatic controller, an expansion disk. and a radiallydisposed brace within the disk to'resl'st the collapse of the disk.

5. his thermostatic controller, a chambered expansion disk, and radialbraces within .the disk to resist the collapse thereof, said bracesbeing joined in pairs by reduced connecting portions and said redupedconnecting portions lying against each other.

G. In a thermostatic controller, a chambered expansion disk with aninteriorly projecting plug at approximately the center thereof, andradial braces joined in pairs by curved and reduced portions lyingagalnsLgach gtl ier gng,

surrounding the inner portion of the plu 7, ln :1 thermostaticcontroller, a chambered expansion disk with interior-1y projecting plugsin its sides, said plugs 'belng juxtaposed to limit the contractingaction of the disk, and radial projectlngbraces contalnd within thedisk, also to limit the 'contractlng'action thereof.

8. in a thermostatic controller, a chambered expansion and also to limitthe contracting action thereof, said braces being joined in pairs byreduced connecting portions lying against each other and embracing theinner portions of the pings V 9. In a thermostatic coniroiior, a casing,an Expansion disk therein, said disk being provided with :1 part havingfilling opening, a threaded pin adapted to rinse said open; ing, the pinscrewing into the easing. and a combined sti ufiing box and look nutscrewing on flu iiircailozi pin and adapted to engage the casing.

10. In a mermosmtiic controller, a casing, an oxpaiis :1 disk, anoriiive plug neenred in the wall of the disk, a threaded rod srrewed in318. ping to close the orifice there oi, and 11 combined stufling boxnndiock nut screwing on the rod and adapted to 'ongago the (raising.

11. In a thermostatic controller, a casing, an expansion disk threin,said .disk being provided with a part having a filling opening, athreaded pin screwing into the casing and adapted to close said iiiiingopening, a combined stufling box and lock nnt screwingon the pin andadapted 20 to engage twinning, a thumb wheel, and means for re1 movahiyconnecting the same with the outer (and of the pin.

*lztiuggtimony whereof I have signed my name to this specifit nfion inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

